August 5th, 2014 marks two years until the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil. The gymnastics world is ever growing with creative new connections, skill inventions, and packed routine combinations - it’s almost as if you have to be a super-human now to do the sport. So what can we expect at Rio 2016? Who can we expect to still see on the world-class international circuit? What surprises may we be in for?
 

 

Out of the five-member 2012 U.S. Olympic team, three women have not competed and two are still going. 

 

Olympic all-around champion, Gabby Douglas, remains questionable. She’s been floating around trying to settle, since moving from Iowa to Los Angeles, back to Iowa, and now joining a new gym in Ohio. After making an appearance at the National Team camp earlier this year for the first time since 2012, she was hoping to return and compete at the P&G Championships later this month. However, she has decided to push her competitive comeback to 2015.

 

Jordyn Wieber attends UCLA and is the team’s general manager. She had her sights set on making a comeback, but from what we know, this seems unlikely.

 

London 2012 Olympic floor champion, Aly Raisman, has not competed since 2012. However, she has her eyes set on attending a National Team camp later this year so watch out for news on her.

 

Olympic vault silver medalist, Mckayla Maroney, made a strong return and won her second World individual title in 2013 on vault. Although she had knee surgery in March, there is positive talk about her making a solid return. At the Secret U.S. Classic, she spoke strongly about her determination to make it to this next Olympic Games. She emphasized that she means business to get back as fast as she can. “For people who don’t think think that I’m really serious about this, you’re wrong. I want this so bad.”

 

Kyla Ross is the only one who has competed regularly since London 2012 and continues to mature and perform consistently. Ross has been joined by a new world-class team member, Simone Biles, who is an all-around power ball and the latest in a string of USA Gymnastics stars. Biles won two gold medals in the all-around and floor exercise, silver on vault, and bronze on balance beam at the 2013 World Championships in her first year competing as a senior. Although she hasn’t competed since then, Biles made a return last weekend at the Classic winning the all-around, the vault and floor exercise, and tying with Ross on balance beam. She’s a consistent competitor and, along with Ross, they are the backbone for the US senior team. 
 

Upcoming juniors who haven’t yet competed at the senior international level may be potential candidates for the 2016 selection. Nia Dennis, Norah Flatley and Bailie Key are just some of the names to keep your eye on over the next few years. 

 

Typically, it is rare to see gymnasts make more than one Olympic team, as the turnover and lifespan of gymnasts is relatively short. However, more and more female gymnasts are continuing in the sport, pushing to make team selection spots, and achieve outstanding results. There is lots to look out for in the next two years from not only the upcoming juniors, but the girls from the last Olympic team, working behind the scenes to make a shot at selections for Rio.

 

 

On the men’s side, Sam Mikulak not only hopes to make the selection, but also to challenge the worlds greatest Kohei Uchimura from Japan. Uchimura is the four-time defending World all-around champion and the 2012 Olympic champion. After a small error on high bar at the 2013 World Championships, Mikulak placed 6th in the all-around, an incredible performance for his first World Championships. The experience he gained will be key for future international championships to come. Expect to see his name alongside outstanding U.S. National team members Alex Naddour, Jake Dalton, John Orozco, Brandon Wynn, Steve Legendre, Danell Leyva and Paul Ruggeri in the run for those coveted five remaining spots.

Related:
Watch Mckayla's interview from the Classic here
Watch Sam Mikulak's post all-around interview from 2013 Worlds here